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Monday, December 20, 2010

Monday moves: Flande hooks on with Atlanta

Just when you thought it was impossible for the Phillies to upstage the Eagles for a second-straight week, the hometown nine indirectly does it again. Left-hander Yohan Flande, who was protected on the Phillies’ 40-man roster last season, has signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves and has been invited to Spring Training. Flande, 24, was released along with right-hander Jesus Sanchez to clear room for Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez and the other guy the Phillies picked up last week. Flande, who has drawn comparisons to Eude Brito on this space, went 10-8 with a 4.38 ERA in 27 starts for Double-A Reading and pitched in the 2009 Futures Game.

Clearly the Braves are trying to stock pile lefties in their pen to counter the Phils because their isn't really another team in the NL East right now that would start a lineup with more than 2 left-handed bats next year.

Hell, there are some decent left-handed bats in the division that Gonzalez will probably bring a lefty reliever to face but there aren't a ton of tough left-handed bats on these 3 teams right now to get out late in a game.

I did find it interesting that supposedly Freddi Gonzalez doesn't regard Sherrill as a situational lefty and instead as a key matchup guy.

After watching the managing masterpieces between Cholly and Freddi unfold the last few years, I have to say I kind of wonder why Freddi seemingly enjoys right now a strong rep in Atlanta as a player's manager who is also a strong strategy guy. Did a different F. Gonzalez manage the Fish vs. Braves during the last 3+ years?